PopSugar

Beauty Mark It! A Gentle Exfoliator for The Red Carpet!

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:33:33 -0800

With the Oscars red carpet quickly approaching celebs have already visited their dermatologists, and other "doctors," in anticipation of the ultimate scrutinizing. Now it's time to zero in on the ensemble, get a massage, or two, and refresh the skin so it is glowing on Sunday.

I have just squeezed out the very last drop of my Sweep by Remede facial exfoliator. I keep it in the shower and use a nickel sized amount twice a week on my face. Call me sick, but I like how you can really feel the little particles scrubbing away your dead/dry skin. The best part about this is that it's light and doesn't irritate - this is key since seasoned celebs know better than to experiment this close to the big day.

Since I am such a beauty junkie, I simply refuse to buy another tube. I'd really like to try something different, something that will gently exfoliate me so I shine on Sunday! Let's all go beauty marking to help me find a new facial exfoliator for sensitive skin. Be sure to come back and tell me when your Beauty Marks are up. Tag your choices with gentle exfoliator so I can find them. To learn what a Beauty Mark is and how to make one, click here.

To see some of my favorite online beauty stores, read more

Saks Beauty Place
Strawberrynet.com
Nordstrom
Sephora
Beauty.com
Drugstore.com
Fred Segal Beauty

New Product Alert: Cornelia Essentials Retexturizing Thermal Exfoliator

BellaSugar — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 08:00:28 -0700

This product from Cornelia Day Resort is perfect for clearing out your blocked pores and getting rid of dead, dry, flaky summer skin. Cornelia Essentials Retexturizing Thermal Exfoliator ($45) launched in August and is perfect for achieving a fresh looking, flawless fall face. What makes this exfoliator just a little bit different is that it is made with calcium chloride to warm your skin upon contact.

Not only does this instantly open up your pores, but it increases oxygen flow to your skin, dissolves impurities, removes toxins and-supposedly-it feels amazing!

Using it is pretty simple: Gently massage a thin layer over a damp, clean face. Don't focus on one area only. Instead, use large circular motions so you don't scratch and irritate your skin. Rinse with warm water, and follow with a serum or moisturizer. It's safe to use once or twice a week.

Doesn't this sound great? It's like having a spa experience right in the comforts of your own home! I am anxiously awaiting mine in the mail and I'll be back with a product review soon.

Product Review: 5th Avenue Bath Co. Exfoliating Body Polish

BellaSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:57:18 -0700

Judging by the name, you might expect 5th Avenue Bath Co. to hail from Manhattan's tony Upper East Side. Instead, the bath- and body-product company comes from suburban Columbus. I've been using its Exfoliating Body Polish with Shea Butter ($17.95) for about a month.

First, the good: I love the scent, Black Vetiver Cafe. 5th Avenue Bath Co. describes it as "a woody and ambery blend with a hint of citrus followed by notes of red cedar, sandalwood and musks." My nose isn't sophisticated enough to parse these notes, but lemme tell you, it has the "expensive and fancy, but natural" thing going on. Another plus is that because of the shea butter, coconut oil and jojoba oil, this scrub leaves a soft protective, moisturizing barrier on skin well after the shower. If you have dry skin, this stuff is a lifesaver!

For the rest of my review, read more

The only thing that I don't love about this polish is that it's really not a heavy-duty exfoliant. While I can feel the sugar crystals on my skin, they're not dense enough to give a large-scale sloughing. I like using this stuff right now, when my skin isn't flaky and overly dry-but during the winter months, I'll need a more serious scrub.

Cheap and Easy: An Affordable Way to Exfoliate

BellaSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:00:18 -0700

The cheapskate in me has been inspired by an Ayurvedic spa treatment I recently had. Before beginning the massage, my esthetician used a stiff brush to briskly go over my dry skin. Not only did it exfoliate dead skin cells, it also increased circulation, and the herbal oil she used left me feeling luxuriously moisturized.

I was so impressed by how good the dry skin brushing felt that I've pulled a MacGyver and have started doing something similar at home. Before stepping into the shower, I gently buff my body with the rough side of a regular kitchen sponge. You can buy these patterned O-Cel-O sponges at your local drugstore for about a dollar, and as long as you use a light touch, you'll be able to get rid of dead skin. They're too rough for your face, so don't think about using this on your complexion; instead, use it on feet, elbows and any other tough, rough skin. After the shower, follow with moisturizer and you'll have the "aah" of the spa-without the "eek" of a high price tag.

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Back To Basics: The Best Body Exfoliators

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:01:00 -0700

Welcome back to Back To Basics, the Cliff Notes version of my all-time favorite products. Since we've been talking so much about self tanner and body bronzer this week on beach week, I thought I'd give you a friendly reminder that the first step before applying any of these products is exfoliating. Your skin becomes shinier once you remove all of those unnecessary dull and dead cells, and it will feel softer and smoother too. Here's a look at three of my top picks for body exfoliators.

Lancome Resurface Microdermabrasion Body Polishing Treatment ($46) is a favorite among beauty editors. The small exfoliating crystals and pumice stone in the formula effectively buff away dullness, and they don't scratch your skin making it red and sensitive like a lot of other exfoliators can.

Since I've tried it, I can hardly shower without it! Your skin is left polished, radiant and it feels like buttah!.

For two more more of my favorite exfoliators, read more

YonKa Phyto Gel Exfoliant Shower Gel ($42) is the ultimate pampering experience to create a buffed bod! It's an ultra-light foaming shower gel and body exfoliant all in one. I love the aquamarine color, the botanical smell and the unrivaled gentleness of this product.

Dermalogica Exfoliating Body Scrub ($28) is more of a creamy textured body exfoliator. It deeply revitalizes and soothes, creating one heck of a polish on the surface of your skin! Plus, it smells really good and woodsy since it's infused with lavender, orange, sandalwood and rosemary. Even your guy won't be shy to try this one out!

Doing Drugstore: St. Ives Moisturizing In-Shower Exfoliating Body Polish

BellaSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:00:01 -0700

I love body polishes that don't require excess force to work, particularly ones that use sugar, which is gentler on the skin. Over the weekend, I tried out St. Ives Moisturizing In-Shower Exfoliating Body Polish, Oatmeal & Shea Butter ($8), which contains natural sugar crystals for exfoliation, oatmeal to soothe, and shea butter for softer skin. While this polish is a little difficult to scoop out of the jar due to its texture (think of a dense Crisco), once it hits the skin and some water, it almost melts, creating a rich, spreadable lather.

The polish has a sweet almond scent and a finer, more dissolvable grit than the famous invigorating St. Ives Apricot Scrub ($4). Before shaving, I spread a little of the polish on my legs for a smooth, non-irritating result.

I like it for a pedicure, too. After scrubbing my feet with the body polish, I used my beauty shortcut to fake a real pedicure. A little goes a long way with this product, making for an affordable - and effective - drugstore find.

At Home Spa Treatment: Piña Colada Body Exfoliant

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Sometimes you need a vacation and taking one is simply impossible. This is when you have to pamper yourself. If you can't sip a piña colada on the beach, why not have a piña colada exfoliating bath? Yep, you can make a great all body exfoliant with the same ingredients you use to make the very same tropical cocktail you would like to be sipping on some beach.

According to Lindisima this treatment will both moisturize your skin as well as act as a gentle exfoliant. The coconut milk moistens the skin and the fruit acid of the pineapple exfoliates dry skin.

Here's what you need:

2 cups of pineapple juice
1 cup of coconut milk (fresh or canned)
1 cup of milk (fat free is better and easier to clean)

Here's what you do:

Place all ingredients in a blender to mix or puree. Draw a bath with water at your favorite temperature.

Pour "piña colada" mixture into the bath water and soak for 10 or 15 minutes.

Sip some cold water with lime or lemon. Close your eyes and feel the Caribbean sea breeze.
Shower after the treatment and apply body lotion.

Just a reminder that if you are allergic to any of these ingredients, you should just give this treatment a pass. And since soaking in hot water can increase the effects of alcohol, you shouldn't drink a piña colada while taking your piña colada bath.

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What's The Wackiest Ingredient You've Used as an Exfoliator?

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:00:15 -0700

In Touch reported that Halle Berry used coffee grinds as a body scrub when she ran out of her exfoliator. Catherine Zeta Jones uses strawberry seeds as a skin brightener and exfoliator (she claims it even whitens her teeth) and Christie Brinkley admitted to using kitty litter in a pinch since the main ingredient is clay.

Pretty resourceful ladies, don't you think? I remember when Bobbi Brown came out with Sandbar soap as part of the summer Beach collection and I thought that was really clever and inventive. Tell me, what is the wackiest ingredient you've ever had to use in place of an exfoliator?

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Get The Most From Your Makeup: Exfoliator

BellaSugar — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:00:57 -0800

Planning on taking a tropical vacation this winter? The next time you are at the beach, collect a heaping handful of sand and seal it in a Ziploc bag. When you get home, put the sand in a bowl next to your bathroom sink, and as you are washing your face, add a pinch of sand into your cleanser to create an at-home exfoliator on the cheap.

You shouldn't scrub too hard, and I recommend only using this sand concoction once every other day since you wouldn't want to over-exfoliate and strip your skin of its natural oils. I love this simple recipe; it reminds me of the Bobbi Brown Sandbar Soap, which I still think is such a simple yet smart invention. If you try it at home, please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Source and Source

D.I.Y. Spa Treatment: Strawberry Exfoliator

BellaSugar — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:24:15 -0700

If you are as big of fan of strawberries as I am, this DIY strawberry exfoliator is a treat you're sure to love. I always keep strawberries around and since they can get quite costly, especially in the winter. I get really bummed when they go soft before I've had the chance to gobble them up. Here's a strawberry indulgence that can save you from throwing money right down the drain!

Take out a mixing bowl and fill it with eight to ten ripe or over-ripe strawberries.
Squash the strawberries until they become soft and mushy. Then combine two tablespoons of olive oil and one teaspoon of coarse salt until you have a paste.
Next, massage the paste onto your body, focusing on any super-dry or dull looking skin areas. Rub well and then rinse off with warm water. Your skin will feel instantly softer, smoother and shinier!

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